As I had mentioned my "Soft Place to Land" is getting a real workout. But after several days of just staring at it, thinking the solution would come to me, I decided to get busy and really find out what went wrong.
It seems that the dominant color palette of Burnt Umber which I mixed for this painting, is probably not well suited to a snow scene. I figured it would go more to the purple side, but it didn't. Oops!
Anyway, here are a few things I did today to see more clearly how Burnt Umber behaves. I use a lot of Burnt Umber in my paintings so thought I already knew. This just goes to show, not all of us are as smart as we think we are : )!
Anyway,
Heres the palette. Pretty huh?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oZCbqi3xSg9AAawKWTg7NKCaLG7O357H-E9aq9oMTN3-6-Dn6sHEJbPGrQwE1FdGgSfz-LTvFMOdFkZn2yqMn5eY-wb3bsyr10qwu7VDNQN_XkDNAfEnZ9bc1vUM_c6pmbN9L2HPt5OS/s400/Umber+Palette.jpg)
Today I made a chart out of it, you know like the ones I've been harping on everyone about?
It went much redder than I thought it would.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMghx3N0juY06LCIrhH_P0Si1OIGSK2uxnxevv8sKOpJuL186O3oJyE0Psabg_SQLQrNNj7qhEAsslaOKa1qK_bvnLSIOh8C2i4nidlLKjCTw49Tpspc9kdNShh8rk7PwRB2gMM6xXJUWm/s400/Burnt+Umber+color+chart.jpg)
So I did this little painting to see what it might look like if I pushed it to the lighter side.
Ooo! Very pink!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBK_d4RFnhcFA5az0O4UD6CYSvESSkLerqFPX2LcSvNkNntPG7okyVCBUPyhPpS6wI4ilszh0KBIMbs8Q-aUVvkLxQQ5joLS1se7PyMXMMADa_wRDwQ7hXhdBFMBIMOh763l_PsxA3hKT/s400/Three+Birds+copy.jpg)
So, whats the lesson?
#1 - I should never assume that I know what I'm doing... : )
#2 - I need to go back and finish one chart for each of my colors, (I have about 3/4 of them done) so I can choose one when I have my heart set on a certain mood to come through in a painting.
This palette I think, would be better suited for a late evening or early morning snow scene. You know, when you have those lovely pink hues falling across the snow. Also, I thought it might work really well for an interior like one of Rembrandt's, with figures or a portrait.
...now what did I do with that olive branch painting?